-1.png?width=980&height=90&name=FGT%20728%20x%2090%20px%20(980%20x%2090%20px)-1.png)
September 8, 2024
Presented by Dataminr
A CIO's Guide to Successful Technology Modernization
Gundeep Ahluwalia, former CIO for the Department of Labor recently concluded an eight-year tenure and shares his insights on leveraging the Technology Modernization Fund (TMF) for successful project execution. Ahluwalia emphasized that the key to his success with TMF projects was prioritizing customer experience and mission-oriented outcomes over technical goals like cloud migration or cybersecurity improvements. By framing project pitches in terms of how they would improve services for the American people, Ahluwalia and his team were able to secure TMF funding and complete impactful projects, such as digitizing the labor certificate process. Ahluwalia also discussed the importance of building strong relationships with program offices and aligning digital strategies with the overarching mission of the agency, which enabled him to maintain a strategic partnership with five different Secretaries of Labor across three administrations. He noted that his long tenure allowed him to build a diverse team and make substantial, lasting improvements to the department’s digital infrastructure.
Key Takeaways:
- Prioritize customer experience and mission-driven outcomes when pitching projects for TMF funding.
- Building strong relationships with program offices and aligning digital strategies with the agency’s mission is essential for long-term success.
- A diverse and skilled team is crucial for implementing and sustaining digital transformations.
The Strategic Evolution of Publicly Available Information in National Security
Dana Barnes, President of Government at Dataminr, shares the transformative role of publicly available information (PAI) in government operations, particularly within the intelligence community. Barnes highlighted that PAI has become a core component of how federal agencies gather, analyze and utilize information. The Department of Defense’s 2019 directive establishing PAI as an operational tool marked a significant shift, formalizing its use and creating a PAI Advisory Council to ensure its application is safe and responsible, especially concerning American citizens' privacy. Barnes explained that different agencies may approach PAI usage differently, but a general framework has emerged, focused on responsible use cases such as disaster response, global awareness with local impacts, and early warning systems for cyber threats. Artificial intelligence, according to Barnes, is essential for managing the vast amounts of data involved, making it possible to extract meaningful insights that would be otherwise unmanageable.
Key Takeaways:
- PAI has become an essential tool in government operations, with a focus on responsible and effective use cases.
- The convergence of physical and cyber security highlights the growing importance of integrated approaches to national security.
- Artificial intelligence is crucial for processing and analyzing the massive amounts of data involved in PAI, enabling timely and actionable insights.
Progressing Acquisition Policy with Emerging Technologies, Data Insights and Workforce Development
Jeff Koses, Senior Procurement Executive at GSA discusses the transition from the first to second generation of the Federal Advisory Committee focused on acquisitions policy. The first generation's success led to a decision to continue with a new focus, aiming to establish consistent policy guardrails and standardized operating practices to foster technology growth. Jeff highlighted that while there isn't a definitive end state for this initiative, the goal is to create a flexible roadmap that can adapt to ongoing innovation. Jeff also discussed the use of data in the acquisition process, particularly through the transactional data reporting initiative. This project has leveraged data to improve outcomes by revealing actionable insights, such as identifying gaps in small business participation and addressing cybersecurity threats. To support the workforce, Jeff also outlined efforts to address demographic imbalances by developing targeted talent programs. This initiative aims to attract and train younger talent and create a common curriculum to ensure consistent and effective professional development.
Key Takeaways:
- The second-generation Federal Advisory Committee aims to establish consistent policy guidelines for emerging technologies like AI, building on lessons learned from the first generation focused on sustainable acquisition.
- The transactional data reporting initiative has successfully utilized data to reduce costs, enhance small business opportunities, and address emerging cybersecurity threats.
- Efforts to support the workforce include developing targeted talent programs based on demographic data to address imbalances and build a more effective and future-ready acquisition workforce.
Please fill out the requested information below